Better Safe Than Sorry | A Good Safety Check is Worth the Money - Baggers Magazine

01. We got the bike over to the shop where they had it up on the lift before we could get our riding gear off. The first thing Kevin, the service tech, did was start a visual walk-around to look everything over.

01. We got the bike over to the shop where they had it up on the lift before we could get

Buyer beware, is something you always hear when making a big purchase. Even more than ever if you don’t know anything about what you are buying. Sometimes that thing that sounds like a great deal makes you say, “Something must be wrong, the price is way too good.” What about when you buy something online? The photos could be doctored. This is where it could get really bad if you don’t know what you are getting until it gets to your house.

As we were sitting around the office we were talking about how it’s a buyer’s market right now. There are a lot of good deals out there if you know what to look for. Scott, one of the guys from our IT/Web department, said he was looking at a bike online and wanted to know what we thought, and if it was worth the money.

02. There is a checksheet with more than 60 points to look at, inspect, and rate from “ok for now,” “may need attention soon,” to “requires immediate attention.” Here is the sheet after the bike was inspected. Let’s go over a few.

02. There is a checksheet with more than 60 points to look at, inspect, and rate from “ok

The bike was an ’01 Road King Police Special with just more than 37,000 miles on the odometer. The first thing we said was, “Any time a cop bike is decommissioned, it’s never pretty.” How they pull all the service parts from the bike is never clean, such as the lights, siren, horn, and speakers, but it could be a diamond in the rough. He kept telling us about the bike and the price, and we said it sounded like a good deal but until we could see it in person, you never know.

About three weeks later there was a flat-black Road King pulling into our shop. The good news was it was a running bike; the bad news was we could hear that it needed a tune-up and see it needed a safety inspection. We called over to Harley-Davidson Anaheim-Fullerton in Fullerton, California, and talked with Colby, the service manager, about giving the bike the once-over and see just how good of a deal it was. We wanted to find out what it would take to make it safe to ride, and just what to look for when in the market to buy a used bike. Colby said to stop on by, warning not to ride crazy until he could go through the bike. B

03. As Kevin walked around the bike, he noted any and all scratches and signs of a dropped or crashed bike. Here we found that one side of the engine guard and highway peg had some damage that looked like the bike may have been dropped.
03. As Kevin walked around the bike, he noted any and all scratches and signs of a droppe
04. Next came the tires and brakes. He found that the tires still had more than 60 percent left. However, when the production date on the sidewall was inspected, they were both more than six years old and should be replaced despite all the tread left.
04. Next came the tires and brakes. He found that the tires still had more than 60 percen
05. The brake pads and rotors on both the front and rear wheel setups were checked next. Both have to be checked because pads never wear the same. The rear pads may look good while the fronts are just about metal-to-metal. He looked at all pads to make sure there was plenty of pad life remaining.
05. The brake pads and rotors on both the front and rear wheel setups were checked next.

06. He also looked for any leaks on the brake lines and missing hardware.
07. The brake fluid level was checked on both mater cylinders. The fluids looked old and discolored, so Kevin bled the lines and new brake fluid was added.
07. The brake fluid level was checked on both mater cylinders. The fluids looked old and
08. Next, all the lights and blinkers were checked. The brake light was out along with one of the front blinkers.
08. Next, all the lights and blinkers were checked. The brake light was out along with on

09. After swapping out the bulbs and the lights still didn’t work we needed to check the wiring. Once we pulled the headlight out of the housing, we could see that the wiring was a mess.
09. After swapping out the bulbs and the lights still didn’t work we needed to check the
10. We found a few raw wires that were just cut and had no heatshrink or electrical tape on the ends, which could cause a short. We safely taped and repaired the raw wires to get all the lights to work.
10. We found a few raw wires that were just cut and had no heatshrink or electrical tape
11. The intake system was checked, starting with the filter and backing plate. The manifold and seals were inspected next. We found a crack and an air intake leak along the backing plate at the breather port.
11. The intake system was checked, starting with the filter and backing plate. The manifo

12. Next we started checking all the fluids, such as the motor oil and transmission. The oil looked ok, but it was changed out anyway along with a new filter. We drained and replaced the trans fluid as well.
12. Next we started checking all the fluids, such as the motor oil and transmission. The
13. The primary fluid and chain tensioner were checked. The chain tensioner was worn down, cracked, and needed to be changed out.
13. The primary fluid and chain tensioner were checked. The chain tensioner was worn down
14. The primary fluid was drained and the outer primary was removed to get to the tensioner.
14. The primary fluid was drained and the outer primary was removed to get to the tensio

15. Here is a look at the damage on the tensioner. You can see the deep grooves that were cut into the tensioner.
15. Here is a look at the damage on the tensioner. You can see the deep grooves that were
16. With the primary off, the clutch plates were also inspected, cleaned, and adjusted.
16. With the primary off, the clutch plates were also inspected, cleaned, and adjusted.
17. Once everything was in place, Kevin adjusted the primary chain to the proper tension and alignment.
17. Once everything was in place, Kevin adjusted the primary chain to the proper tension

19. There was still about 1⁄3 of the outer pad left. It will need to be changed soon.
19. There was still about 1⁄3 of the outer pad left. It will need to be changed soon.
20. The fuel system was inspected from the gas tank and cap to all the fuel lines. The crossover was cracked and leaking and needed to be changed. One of the lines from the tank to the manifold was also cracked and needed to be replaced.
20. The fuel system was inspected from the gas tank and cap to all the fuel lines. The cr
21. After we moved onto the frame and handling, Kevin found that the front motor mount was bad. The main mount bolt was cracked and not connected.
21. After we moved onto the frame and handling, Kevin found that the front motor mount wa

22. Here is the mount. You can see how bad the crack was and why it was replaced.
22. Here is the mount. You can see how bad the crack was and why it was replaced.
23. Kevin removed the swingarm caps and inspected the rubber mounts and torqued the pivot shaft bolt. Here the rear belt was being inspected and the tension adjusted properly.
23. Kevin removed the swingarm caps and inspected the rubber mounts and torqued the pivot
24. The sparkplugs were removed and Kevin could see that the motor was running a bit lean by the color of the spark plugs and the discoloration of the exhaust pipes. He also found two small cracks on the head pipe at the Y-joint. This would have to be welded or replaced.
24. The sparkplugs were removed and Kevin could see that the motor was running a bit lean

25. Kevin did a compression test on the bike and found that the cylinders were 150 psi on the front and 95 psi on the rear. The bike ran ok, but could use new pistons and rings.
25. Kevin did a compression test on the bike and found that the cylinders were 150 psi on
26. A pressure leak-down test was also done on the fuel system. He found that the pump was good at 60 psi.
26. A pressure leak-down test was also done on the fuel system. He found that the pump wa
27. Kevin went through the electrical system, starting at the battery and the fuse block. He found a lot of wires that were just cut and left hanging inside the panel. Kevin did all the repairs to cover and relocate the wires. He replaced the fuse block and mounted it back on the bike the right way.
27. Kevin went through the electrical system, starting at the battery and the fuse block.

28. Kevin took a wrench to every bolt on the bike and looked for anything loose, broken, or missing.
28. Kevin took a wrench to every bolt on the bike and looked for anything loose, broken,
29. After everthing was fixed, adjusted, repaired, changed, and wiped down, the bike was road ready and safe to ride. Kevin took the bike out for a 20-mile testride to check the handling, braking, and safety. Only then did he give the bike the ok and signed off on it.
29. After everthing was fixed, adjusted, repaired, changed, and wiped down, the bike was
30. When we look back at all the things that were done and the cost, it was worth it to have a trained service tech go through the bike. You can’t put a price on your safety, but you can on quality. Spend the money and get it done the right way. You don’t want to have to keep spending money on it. It’s never worth it, no matter how much you spent on the bike. Better safe than sorry.
30. When we look back at all the things that were done and the cost, it was worth it to